Area schools, BNC in brief

The oblong shape of the football creates a tense situation when it hits the ground. Will it bounce right left, up or down?

All three Otsego County varsity football teams are hoping that, this year, the ball bounces back.

A bounce back season is what is desired at Gaylord High, St. Mary and Johannesburg-Lewiston, all who suffered through tough 2010 seasons.

There are two new coaches in the area, as Gaylord’s Doug Berkshire and St. Mary’s Denny YoungDyke take over following 0-9 seasons at their respective programs.

J-L, weighted with strong expectations a year ago, struggled with injuries and close losses and settled for being one of the best 4-4 teams around.

A bounce back may mean something different for everyone. It could mean a competitive season with improvement from beginning to end, or it could mean a handful of hard-fought wins. It could mean a trip back to the playoffs and it could mean competing for a league crown. It’s the beauty of this time of year — everyone’s expectations are healthy and optimistic.

Which way will the ball bounce this season?

2011 Big North Conference

preview

If the Big North Conference area football writers are right, it will be another fight to the finish in what has become a competitive league full of parody. That was shown off last year, where Petoskey and Traverse City West tied for the league title, with Cadillac and Traverse City Central finishing just a game back. Those four were prominent in the preseason league poll, with just five points separating first through fourth place.

Petoskey takes preseason top honors with a total of 28 points, including two of five first-place votes. West was second, with 27 points and three of five first-place votes. Cadillac (26 points) and Traverse City Central (24) weren’t far behind.

League newcomer Ogemaw Heights also is expected to challenge as the Falcons garnered 19 points, including a second-place prediction. Gaylord and Alpena tied for sixth with eight points apiece.

The following is a brief rundown of the BNC teams:

Petoskey

The Northmen return two starters in the backfield in wingback Joe Robbins and fullback Eian Delph. Robbins led the team in scoring last season with 16 touchdowns. He’s one of the top returning athletes in the league. Other top returners are junior Quinn Ameel, who will play quarterback and safety, and senior Zak Lewis, a starting end and linebacker.

Petoskey has enjoyed a stretch of impressive success, making the playoffs three straight years and winning the league title in 2008 and 2010.

Traverse City West

There aren’t too many starters returning for the Titans (five total), but the league’s biggest school enrollment-wise often finds a way to win. West does have cornerback Zac Shafer and linebacker Matt Beem back on defense and running back Shafer and tight end Nick Richardson back on offense, along with massive left tackle Jordan Strope.

Cadillac

The Vikings lost some key skill position athletes, but their biggest strength lies on the offensive line and behind 6-foot-8, 315-pound junior tackle Riley Norman. Brandon Parcell, Jack Ford and Ryan McConnell are other key returners up front. Jalen Brooks, a solid athlete, and Richie Heyd are the top ballcarriers.

Traverse City Central

The Trojans lost their quarterback and top receiver to graduation, so expect them to run the ball more this season. Receiver Joe Prokes will likely take over at quarterback with running backs Tyler Clark and Ryan Verschuren giving them a couple of veterans to rely on in the run game. Three starters return on the line, but just three starters return on the defense. Kicker Jake Gorter was 33-of-33 on extra point attempts last season.

Ogemaw Heights

The league’s new addition brings a long run of success to the BNC. The Falcons have made the playoffs 10 of the past 12 years and have beaten Petoskey twice in the past three seasons. They also return six starters on offense and seven on defense, led by dual-threat quarterback Sheldon Roberto, who racked up more than 2,000 combined yards and 21 touchdowns last season. Andrew Oswald and Brandon Benac will help carry the rushing load.

Alpena

Alpena loses a number of key skill players on offense but does return all but one starting lineman. Two sophomores, Tim Atkinson and Brady Marwede, are in competition for the starting quarterback position. Senior fullback Tom Dihle is the leading returning rusher, while center Chad Bruski is the anchor of the line.